Co-production of an online research and resource platform for improving the health of young people-The hype project

PLoS One. 2024 Jun 7;19(6):e0277734. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277734. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Mental health conditions tend to go unrecognised and untreated in adolescence, and therefore it is crucial to improve the health and social outcomes for these individuals through age and culturally appropriate interventions. This paper aims firstly to describe the development and implementation of the HYPE project platform (a research and resource platform co-designed and co-produced with young people). The second aim is to describe the characteristics of participants who engaged with the platform and an embedded pilot online survey. Participatory action research approach was used to address objectives of the HYPE project. Data were analysed to: (1) help improve access to health and social services, (2) guide provision of information of online resources and (3) deliver complementary community-based events/activities to promote mental health and to ultimately prevent mental health issues. Pilot and main phases of the HYPE project demonstrated the capacity and feasibility for such a platform to reach local, national, and international populations. Analyses demonstrated that the platform was particularly relevant for young females with pre-existing health difficulties. Some of the barriers to involving young people in research and help-seeking are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internet*
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Pilot Projects
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This paper represents independent research funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London (Grant number BRC-1215–20018). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. CG and NB are fully funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Grant number BRC-1215–20018). SLH was part-funded by the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (Grant number BRC-1215–20018) and is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Centre for Society and Mental Health at King's College London (Grant Reference: ES/S012567/1). SLH also received funding from the Wellcome Trust (Grant Reference: 203380/Z/16/Z) and Impact on Urban Health part of Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation [Grant References: EIC210605 and EIC221208). CW is supported by the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health at King's College London (Grant Reference: ES/S012567/1). There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.